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The Indiana charity, which lost almost $50,000 investing in the Regions Morgan Keegan Select Intermediate Bond Fund, was one of the first investors in the group of bloodied RMK funds to file a claim or lawsuit recently saying the funds’ volatility had not been fully disclosed."

The Portsmouth Rotary Club will hold its fifth annual Polar Bear Swim on Jan. 12 at Great Island Common in New Castle. In four previous years, the swims have raised and contributed more than $40,000 to the club in support of various local groups and organizations."

Editorial: New leading voices for philanthropy: "The result is the Leadership Emergence and Development Project, or LEAD for short. It's on a mission to find and prepare the next generation of major donors and governing board members for Twin Cities nonprofit organizations, so that they are ready to step into the leadership of those organizations as their parents' generation retires."

Consider giving to groups that aid working poor | www.azstarnet.com ®: "The Arizona tax code gives a tax credit to people who contribute to groups that assist the working poor. This tax credit can be claimed in addition to credits given for contributions to public schools or private-school tuition organizations.The tax credit allows gifts to the many charitable organizations that have certified they qualify to receive donations because they're exempt from federal income tax — 501(c)(3) organizations — or because they're designated community action agencies that receives federal community block grant"

A study released earlier this month showed residents of Pitkin County to be the most generous in Colorado, giving an average of $12,978 to charities. Averaging $8,477 in charitable gifts per donor, Eagle County was second in the survey."

Having started from the cape on December 7, they rode into Bluff on Saturday having completed 2400km, about 120km a day.

The family, in various combinations, have completed numerous cycle tours together around the world since 2000. Each time they pay their own expenses before raising money at home for different charity organisations in the country they are touring. Grandmother Jenny Pye said she did not like the feeling of 'just' being a tourist."

The homes will be built in 42 states through the partnership of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans - a nonprofit group offering financial products and services to Lutheran members – and Habitat for Humanity. The homes are funded by a four-year commitment of $125 million by Thrivent."

2007 a profitable year for nonprofits - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Several Pittsburgh attractions had a record number of visitors in 2007. Others boast membership increases of more than 50 percent. Retailers may have reported a sluggish Christmas shopping season, but Pittsburgh's educational attractions expect the high attendance to carry over into the new year."

BOSTON - The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay’s CEO says his mentoring organization will continue to work on collaborative efforts with the Big Sister Association of Greater Boston despite a legal battle between the two nonprofit groups.

John Pearson, CEO of the Boston-based Big Brothers group, said he has instructed his staff to continue to assist Big Sister even though Big Sister filed a service-mark infringement suit against his organization on Friday."

3 Years After Tsunami, Bay Area Residents Still Helping: "Dubbed Project Hope, the complex includes an orphanage and school for more than 450 children. There also are homes for more than 200 widowed, poor and abandoned women who learn about computers, sewing and other skills in a vocational training center.

In less than a year, the Patel Foundation for Global Understanding helped raise $400,000, with much of it coming from prominent donors in the Tampa Bay area. But dollars also came from school children at the Academy at the Lakes in Land 'O Lakes, which collected $2,700; and restaurant workers in Tampa who started Waiting for Relief, an effort that raised more than $20,000.

In October, a group of 16 people representing the foundation traveled to Cuddlore. One of them was former University of South Florida president Betty Castor, who now is executive director for the think-tank USF Patel Center For Global Solutions."

.02 Determination of standard mileage rates. The business and medical and moving standard mileage rates reflected in this revenue procedure are based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile conducted on behalf of the Service by an independent contractor. The charitable contribution standard mileage rate is provided in § 170(i) of the Internal Revenue Code.SECTION 3. BACKGROUND AND CHANGES

.01 Section 162(a) allows a deduction for all the ordinary and necessary expenses paid or incurred during the taxable year in carrying on any trade or business. Under that provision, an employee or self-employed individual may deduct the cost of operating an automobile to the extent that it is used in a trade or business. However, under § 262, no portion of the cost of operating an automobile that is attributable to personal use is deductible."

Monday, December 31, 2007

pri NewsRoom: "SANTA MONICA (2007-12-28) Aristotle said 'to give away money is an easy matter and in any man's power. But to decide to whom to give it, and how large and when, for what purpose and how, is neither in every man's power nor an easy matter.' Many Americans will be making those decisions in the final days of tax year 2007. 'To the Point' explores how we can target our charitable giving to be most effective."

Las Vegas SUN: Editorial: A drop in the bucket: "Charities are having a tough year. Fewer than half of the nation's charities are bringing in more money this holiday season than last, according to a survey by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

The last three months of the year are crucial to many charities. Roughly 70 percent of the charities surveyed reported that at least 40 percent of their annual budget comes in during the holiday season."